The piano is one of the world's most familiar instruments. But the piano strokes taking place this week at Loyola sing to the tune of over $35,000.Viktor Valkov was the winner of the 2012 New Orleans International Piano Competition, held at Loyola University.Watch report“When you're a competitor, you're very much worried with memory problems, right? That's one thing for pianists -- and technical execution," Valkov said.The highly acclaimed pianist has gone from the competitor's seat to a member of the competition jury. And while the technical precision is important, the priorities have changed."You remember personalities and communication, and if that's in place, then you remember the competitor, and everything else is secondary," Valkov said.The competition has reached the silver stage, celebrating 25 years in existence and welcoming pianists from all over the world.Cara McCool is the competition coordinator at MASNO."This year we had 152 competitors apply from 26 different countries. And then the judges listened to all of those CDs and narrowed it down to the 12 semifinalists who were invited to come and compete this week," McCool said.And the competition will turn sharper.“The judges narrow it down to the final three who will compete with a 50-minute program on Sunday the 27th for the finals," McCool said.Alberto Carnevale Ricci is one of the semifinalists who has been practicing extensively for months. But he's no stranger to New Orleans."I've been here two years ago, also for the same competition. And I find the atmosphere fantastic and everything great, and, I decided to come back,” Ricci said.Tony Decuir, dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts at Loyola University New Orleans, is excited about how busy the music building has been over the last few weeks."Part of our platform here at Loyola is to be the premiere place to go for music and the arts, and so having MASNO here for so many years has just been such a tremendous benefit for us in the school of music in the college of music, and for Loyola in general," Decuir said.A row of black and white keys showcasing an international and rich musical heritage.

NEW ORLEANS —

The piano is one of the world's most familiar instruments. But the piano strokes taking place this week at Loyola sing to the tune of over $35,000.

Viktor Valkov was the winner of the 2012 New Orleans International Piano Competition, held at Loyola University.

The highly acclaimed pianist has gone from the competitor's seat to a member of the competition jury. And while the technical precision is important, the priorities have changed.

"You remember personalities and communication, and if that's in place, then you remember the competitor, and everything else is secondary," Valkov said.

The competition has reached the silver stage, celebrating 25 years in existence and welcoming pianists from all over the world.

Cara McCool is the competition coordinator at MASNO.

"This year we had 152 competitors apply from 26 different countries. And then the judges listened to all of those CDs and narrowed it down to the 12 semifinalists who were invited to come and compete this week," McCool said.

And the competition will turn sharper.

“The judges narrow it down to the final three who will compete with a 50-minute program on Sunday the 27th for the finals," McCool said.

Alberto Carnevale Ricci is one of the semifinalists who has been practicing extensively for months. But he's no stranger to New Orleans.

"I've been here two years ago, also for the same competition. And I find the atmosphere fantastic and everything great, and, I decided to come back,” Ricci said.

Tony Decuir, dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts at Loyola University New Orleans, is excited about how busy the music building has been over the last few weeks."Part of our platform here at Loyola is to be the premiere place to go for music and the arts, and so having MASNO here for so many years has just been such a tremendous benefit for us in the school of music in the college of music, and for Loyola in general," Decuir said.

A row of black and white keys showcasing an international and rich musical heritage.